NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) has been awarded federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emerging Markets Program (EMP) to expand export opportunities for Tennessee’s hardwood industry through international trade missions with India and Vietnam.
“Tennessee’s hardwood industry is one of our state’s greatest natural resource assets, and global demand continues to grow,” said Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt. “This EMP investment will allow us to open new doors for producers and ensure Tennessee hardwoods remain competitive in high-value international markets.”
Through two EMP awards totaling more than $880,000, TDA will lead efforts to promote Tennessee hardwood lumber, value-added wood products, and other forest products overseas. The grant-funded projects are designed to connect Tennessee producers with new buyers, identify emerging market trends, and establish relationships that support long-term export growth.
The funding will focus on expanding market access through direct international engagement. Planned activities include outbound trade missions to India and Vietnam to assess hardwood market conditions and explore potential supply chain partnerships, along with inbound delegations to Tennessee to tour sawmills, manufacturing facilities, and forest operations across the state.
The Emerging Markets Program is administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and provides cost-share assistance to U.S. entities working to develop, maintain, or expand agricultural export markets in developing countries. More information about TDA’s export and business development initiatives is available at www.tn.gov/agbusinessdevelopment.
TDA’s Business Development Division works closely with Tennessee farmers, foresters, and agribusinesses to strengthen rural economies and increase farm income. The division supports growth across agriculture and forestry by pursuing new industries, expanding existing operations, and connecting Tennessee products to local and global markets through partnerships, trade missions, and programs such as Pick Tennessee Products, which promotes thousands of farm-direct businesses and products statewide.
